High School Preparation for Law School - Health Professions and ...
High School Preparation for Law School - Health Professions and ... High School Preparation for Law School - Health Professions and ...
HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND PRELAW CENTER Indiana University Bloomington ■ University Division ■ Maxwell Hall 010 ■ Bloomington IN 47405 812-855-1873 ■ Fax 812-856-2770 ■ hpplc@indiana.edu ■ www.hpplc.indiana.edu HIGH SCHOOL PREPARATION FOR LAW SCHOOL Students in high school can do a number of things to prepare themselves for law school. While in high school (and college), they should develop skills in writing, analysis, critical thinking, and research. They should develop a broad understanding of the world around them, and they should investigate the realities of a legal career. For high school students, the most useful courses are those which encourage precise writing and organized research, as well as critical examination of the writing of others. Courses which help students build vocabulary and become familiar with libraries are also helpful. It is impossible to overstate the importance of developing strong writing skills. To begin with, the ability to write clearly and persuasively helps students perform well on the essay exams that are given in most college liberal arts courses. Posting high grades in college allows students a wider choice among law schools when it is time to apply. Further, in most law school courses, especially during the first year, grading is based solely on a single essay exam given at the end of each semester; doing well depends on the ability to write well. The bar examination, which every law school graduate must pass to practice law, is at least half essay in every state. Finally, in a law practice, researching relevant law and preparing written memos, briefs, or transactions occupies nearly all of a lawyer's time. It is only a popular myth that lawyers spend most of their time arguing cases before judges and juries. Success in law is more often contingent on strong, persuasive writing than on persuasive speaking. High school students will find any subject which makes students investigate and question the way in which human behavior and institutions interact helpful—for example, sociology, political science, psychology, economics, history, and anthropology, among others. Science, mathematics, logic, philosophy, and computer science also help develop logical and analytical thought processes useful to the successful practice of law. Students should take classes such as these in high school if available, and definitely while in college. Although it is great for students to have an idea of what career they may want to pursue, it is certainly not necessary to choose a career path now, or to stick to that idea through college. Use the college years to explore many different courses of study and career options. Students should make sure to plan a college schedule that will allow them to pursue another career, if law school is not the final choice. The hints in this sheet are useful for any high school students planning to go on to college, whether or not they go on to another three years of law school. Careful high school preparation and the development of good study habits will help prepare students for superior college performance, a significant factor in law school admission. A challenging high school curriculum which offers a well-rounded education is the most effective preparation for aspiring law students. * * * * * * * * * * * * SUGGESTED READING MATERIALS LAW SCHOOLS AND LEGAL EDUCATION Bell, Susan J. Full Disclosure: Do You Really Want to Be a Lawyer? Dworkin, Elizabeth, et. al., Becoming a Lawyer: A Humanistic Perspective on Legal Education and Professionalism. Gillers, Stephen, ed. Looking at Law School: A Student Guide from the Society of American Law Teachers. So You Want To Be a Lawyer: A Practical Guide. rev. ed. Law School Admissions Council \\Bl-udiv-server\departments\HPPLIC\Administrative\HPPLIC Documentation\Information Sheets\2006-2007 Documents\Law 2006-2007\High School Prep for Law School.doc 5/10/2007
- Page 2 and 3: Thinking About Law School: A Minori
HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND PRELAW CENTER<br />
Indiana University Bloomington ■ University Division ■ Maxwell Hall 010 ■ Bloomington IN 47405<br />
812-855-1873 ■ Fax 812-856-2770 ■ hpplc@indiana.edu ■ www.hpplc.indiana.edu<br />
HIGH SCHOOL PREPARATION FOR LAW SCHOOL<br />
Students in high school can do a number of things to prepare themselves <strong>for</strong> law school. While in high<br />
school (<strong>and</strong> college), they should develop skills in writing, analysis, critical thinking, <strong>and</strong> research. They<br />
should develop a broad underst<strong>and</strong>ing of the world around them, <strong>and</strong> they should investigate the realities of<br />
a legal career.<br />
For high school students, the most useful courses are those which encourage precise writing <strong>and</strong><br />
organized research, as well as critical examination of the writing of others. Courses which help students<br />
build vocabulary <strong>and</strong> become familiar with libraries are also helpful.<br />
It is impossible to overstate the importance of developing strong writing skills. To begin with, the ability to<br />
write clearly <strong>and</strong> persuasively helps students per<strong>for</strong>m well on the essay exams that are given in most<br />
college liberal arts courses. Posting high grades in college allows students a wider choice among law<br />
schools when it is time to apply. Further, in most law school courses, especially during the first year,<br />
grading is based solely on a single essay exam given at the end of each semester; doing well depends on<br />
the ability to write well. The bar examination, which every law school graduate must pass to practice law, is<br />
at least half essay in every state. Finally, in a law practice, researching relevant law <strong>and</strong> preparing written<br />
memos, briefs, or transactions occupies nearly all of a lawyer's time. It is only a popular myth that lawyers<br />
spend most of their time arguing cases be<strong>for</strong>e judges <strong>and</strong> juries. Success in law is more often contingent<br />
on strong, persuasive writing than on persuasive speaking.<br />
<strong>High</strong> school students will find any subject which makes students investigate <strong>and</strong> question the way in which<br />
human behavior <strong>and</strong> institutions interact helpful—<strong>for</strong> example, sociology, political science, psychology,<br />
economics, history, <strong>and</strong> anthropology, among others. Science, mathematics, logic, philosophy, <strong>and</strong><br />
computer science also help develop logical <strong>and</strong> analytical thought processes useful to the successful<br />
practice of law. Students should take classes such as these in high school if available, <strong>and</strong> definitely while<br />
in college.<br />
Although it is great <strong>for</strong> students to have an idea of what career they may want to pursue, it is certainly not<br />
necessary to choose a career path now, or to stick to that idea through college. Use the college years to<br />
explore many different courses of study <strong>and</strong> career options. Students should make sure to plan a college<br />
schedule that will allow them to pursue another career, if law school is not the final choice. The hints in this<br />
sheet are useful <strong>for</strong> any high school students planning to go on to college, whether or not they go on to<br />
another three years of law school. Careful high school preparation <strong>and</strong> the development of good study<br />
habits will help prepare students <strong>for</strong> superior college per<strong>for</strong>mance, a significant factor in law school<br />
admission. A challenging high school curriculum which offers a well-rounded education is the most<br />
effective preparation <strong>for</strong> aspiring law students.<br />
* * * * * * * * * * * *<br />
SUGGESTED READING MATERIALS<br />
LAW SCHOOLS AND LEGAL EDUCATION<br />
Bell, Susan J. Full Disclosure: Do You Really Want to Be a <strong>Law</strong>yer?<br />
Dworkin, Elizabeth, et. al., Becoming a <strong>Law</strong>yer: A Humanistic Perspective on Legal Education <strong>and</strong> Professionalism.<br />
Gillers, Stephen, ed. Looking at <strong>Law</strong> <strong>School</strong>: A Student Guide from the Society of American <strong>Law</strong> Teachers.<br />
So You Want To Be a <strong>Law</strong>yer: A Practical Guide. rev. ed. <strong>Law</strong> <strong>School</strong> Admissions Council<br />
\\Bl-udiv-server\departments\HPPLIC\Administrative\HPPLIC Documentation\In<strong>for</strong>mation Sheets\2006-2007 Documents\<strong>Law</strong><br />
2006-2007\<strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> Prep <strong>for</strong> <strong>Law</strong> <strong>School</strong>.doc 5/10/2007
Thinking About <strong>Law</strong> <strong>School</strong>: A Minority Guide. rev. ed. <strong>Law</strong> <strong>School</strong> Admissions Council.<br />
Llewellyn, Karl N. The Bramble Bush: On Our <strong>Law</strong> <strong>and</strong> its Study.<br />
Mayfield, Craig K. Reading Skills <strong>for</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Students.<br />
LEGAL PROFESSION<br />
Walt Bachman, <strong>Law</strong> v. Life: What <strong>Law</strong>yers are Afraid to Say about the Legal Profession<br />
F. Lee Bailey, To Be a Trial <strong>Law</strong>yer<br />
Benjamin Nathan Cardozo, The Nature of the Judicial Process<br />
Ronald Dworkin, <strong>Law</strong>'s Empire<br />
Jonathan Harr, A Civil Action<br />
Martin Horwitz, The Trans<strong>for</strong>mation of American <strong>Law</strong><br />
Richard D. Kahlenberg, Broken Contract : A Memoir of Harvard <strong>Law</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
David Kairys, The Politics of <strong>Law</strong>: A Progressive Critique<br />
Michael J. Kelly, Lives of <strong>Law</strong>yers: Journeys in the Organizations of Practice<br />
Barbara Kingsolver, Pigs in Heaven<br />
Arthur Kinoy, Rights on Trial: The Odyssey of a People's <strong>Law</strong>yer<br />
Richard Kluger, Simple Justice: The History of Brown v. Board of Education <strong>and</strong> Black America 's Struggle <strong>for</strong><br />
Equality<br />
Anthony Kronman, The Lost <strong>Law</strong>yer: Failing Ideals of the Legal Profession<br />
Edward H. Levi, Introduction to Legal Reasoning<br />
Anthony Lewis, Gideon's Trumpet<br />
Sol M. Linowitz, The Betrayed Profession: <strong>Law</strong>yering at the End of the Twentieth Century<br />
Richard W. Moll, The Lure of the <strong>Law</strong>: Why People Become <strong>Law</strong>yers, <strong>and</strong> What the Profession Does to Them<br />
Benjamin Sells, The Soul of the <strong>Law</strong><br />
Gerry Spence, With Justice <strong>for</strong> None<br />
James B. Stewart, The Partners<br />
Gerald M. Stern, The Buffalo Creek Disaster<br />
Christopher D. Stone, Should Trees Have St<strong>and</strong>ing? And Other Essays on <strong>Law</strong>, Morals <strong>and</strong> the Environment<br />
Cameron Stracher, Double Billing: A Young <strong>Law</strong>yer's Tale of Greed, Sex, Lies, <strong>and</strong> the Pursuit of a Swivel Chair<br />
Jeffrey Toobin, Too Close to Call: The Thirty-Six-Day Battle to Decide the Election of 2000<br />
Scott Turow, 1-L<br />
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We encourage you to use e-mail to ask questions, check your recommendations, <strong>and</strong> to communicate<br />
with our prelaw advisors. Send e-mail to an individual prelaw advisor or to udivhpp@indiana.edu.<br />
Please check the HPPLC Web Site <strong>for</strong> notices of upcoming meetings, campus visitations, <strong>and</strong> other<br />
items of interest.<br />
[This document has been prepared <strong>for</strong> Indiana University - Bloomington students by the <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Professions</strong> <strong>and</strong> Prelaw<br />
Center. Please note that specific requirements <strong>and</strong> policies can change at any time without notice. Students are responsible<br />
<strong>for</strong> obtaining the most current in<strong>for</strong>mation directly from the application services, schools, <strong>and</strong> programs in which they have an<br />
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interest.]<br />
\\Bl-udiv-server\departments\HPPLIC\Administrative\HPPLIC Documentation\In<strong>for</strong>mation Sheets\2006-2007 Documents\<strong>Law</strong><br />
2006-2007\<strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> Prep <strong>for</strong> <strong>Law</strong> <strong>School</strong>.doc 5/10/2007
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